Extreme flooding events on the Rhine and the survival and distribution of riparian plant species

摘要: Summary 1 Summer floods whose severity is affected by flooding duration, submergence depth and underwater light availability, have a large impact on the zonation of riparian plant species. 2 We analysed range variability these components in River Rhine quantified their effects ability Arrhenatherum elatius, Achillea millefolium, Rumex acetosa crispus, to survive periods under experimental conditions. 3 Survival characteristics were used model species’ lower distribution boundaries for extreme average compared with current field distribution. Different conditions simulated implementing three scenarios suspended load. 4 Extreme deep are characterized very low median transmission levels (i.e. below 0.5%). The largest survival responses experiment observed at such (0.4–3.5 µmol m−2 s−1). Strong found R. crispus A. but weaker elatius acetosa. Submergence also survival, not as strongly light. 5 For flood intolerant species (A. millefolium elatius) was predicted little effect distributions normal conditions. However, actual 2000 corresponded years. This suggests that years determine many load significantly modified both years, implying limits may be shifted upwards or downwards depending river system. 6 The intermediately tolerant highly 2000. only partly influenced major disturbances other factors, either proximate historical, play prominent role.